Nissan spun the components of its current-generation Micra into a new car which is sold as a faux crossover, which they named the Kicks. The faux crossover format allows Nissan to sell the vehicle at a higher price point that the Micra would have been able to sell for.

The Kicks is powered by Nissan’s ubiquitous 1.6L four which mates up to a CVT exclusively. The exterior was the first car of the style renaissance for Nissan that has now issued the chic Altima and attractive Sentra, Versa and Rogue. The cabin design is refreshingly clean, uncluttered and features very functional controls. The seating position is good for the driver with plenty of headroom and legroom up front. Larger front passengers feel quite constrained by the centre console. The rear seat is supportive, legroom is reasonable for this class of car and the big doors and high roof make access quite easy. The regularly shaped cargo area is ample and very deep below the window line. The rear seatbacks do not fold flat but cargo space is good with them folded.

Nissan looks to have optimized performance and fuel economy when it was thinking of the Kicks. Unless really pushed hard, the 1.6L four moves the Kicks with sufficient speed and is quite refined around town and at highway speeds. The only time when it becomes a touch vocal is when incremental speed is summoned at highway speeds. The 1.6L four mates well with a CVT transmission that mimics the shift patterns of a conventional automatic transmission and avoids the rubber banding that used to be so much a part of the CVT experience. Steering is accurate but lacks much road feel and the ride-handling compromise arrived at by Nissan will please most buyers. Overall the Kicks is a good package and, considering the cars Nissan has issued over the last decade, the car was a bit of a breakthrough.

The air conditioning in the Kicks copes well with tropical weather in Toronto and seemed cool enough despite the fact that the lowest possible temperature is 18 centigrade. Aiming the dash vents to send air to the face proved to be a challenge. The Bose-branded audio system on the SR Premium tested was, with a very muddy sound, disappointing. Sound from the  novel headrest mounted speakers were, despite watching several online tutorials to figure out how they are engaged, proved as elusive on this example as it was on two previous ones. Screen graphics are acceptable in a car at this price point.

Somewhat muddled model lineup with closely overlapping trims. At least two of the trims could be consolidated without anyone noticing., With air conditioning, Bluetooth, the iOS-Android cellphone interface, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot and rear cross traffic warning and rear parking sonar, the base Kicks S is very well equipped. The SV adds alloy wheels, enhanced cabin trim, automatic climate control, roof rails, heated front seats, remote starting and a driver drowsiness warning, resulting in a comprehensively equipped car, at a tempting price. The SV Special Edition offers little of value for the money asked and is really pointless. The SR model is equipped with L.E.D. headlight, fog lights, fancier cabin trim and an auto-dim rearview mirror and is good value.  The SR Premium upgrade includes a 360 degree camera system, a luggage blind, a Bose-branded audio system and an alarm, at a tempting price. There is so little difference between the SR and SR Premium that they should be consolidated.

Predicted reliability is below average to average. Smaller Nissans generate much higher than average servicing and repair costs. The CVT transmission often expires just after the warranty ends and premature failure of components such a ball joints are accompanied by massive repair bills.